The European Union plans to support seven artificial intelligence gigafactories throughout the region using €10 billion in funding, according to the European Commission on Thursday. This initiative seeks to narrow the technological divide with the United States and China.
The Commission intends to draw at least €20 billion from private sources for these projects. The number of planned facilities rose from five to seven due to significant interest from member states.
These sites will integrate cutting-edge AI processors, software, cloud services, fast connectivity, and data centers. They will supplement the current 19 AI factories operating in various EU nations.
EU technology commissioner Henna Virkkunen stated that gaining access to large-scale computing resources in AI gigafactories is essential for Europe amid rapid AI advancements.
Groups consisting of technology firms, cloud providers, public bodies, and investors may submit applications for participation.
Applications must be submitted by November 12. The Commission anticipates selecting winners in early 2027, with operations starting within 18 months after agreements are signed.
AMD, Nvidia, and Qualcomm have expressed interest by signing letters of intent to supply chips for the projects.
